My time in World Wildlife Fund was a huge learning curve. While it was fun learning and growing at WWF, there was at one point i had enough of its politics and i began question the way it was running and its policies. Back 2010 or 2011 , after my time helping create, raise conservation fund up to RM1.3 Million and implementing conservation project in semporna through World Wildlife Fund, i had the opportunity to setup a social enterprise called Borneo Conservancy.
My focus then through borneo conservancy was to help out with local stakeholder back in semporna particularly with the dive industry in figuring out a solution on shark conservancy as these were area they they needed help. However, i knew then that if we were to focus on marine species conservation particularly shark, we need to look at the issue at the bigger picture. At in our case, we need to deal with it regionally alongside with neighboring country such as philippines and indonesia.
One thing lead to another, we had the chance to be part of malaysia team to negotiated and get these two country to agree on a regional action plan for shark. Through our successful meeting in bandung, Malaysia then came up with a National Action Plan for Sharks that was reported and on of th strategy is to work on a shark sanctuary that Borneo Conservancy was fighting for.
To cut the story short, we got what we wanted, the state government agree on a shark sanctuary and the Sabah State is working its initiatives with various partners through Sabah Parks.
Our associates through borneo conservancy work on various issues too, from dealing with community protocol to Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, Turtle Conservation, etc.
One thing for sure, we have always played those part of those people behind the scene that move and shake the dynamic of conservation and social justice in the state. It was one hell of a ridea and an experience.
We would usually asked, how do we finance ourselves to do the thing we love in borneo conservancy. The answer is simple. We stop begging unlike other huge NGO . As a social enterprise we were selling our services, skill sets and in return use those resources to drive our interest, hence the reason why we consider ourselves a social enterprise.
Sustainable Financing Mechanism is for Borneo Conservancy is something that we have not truly work on, so there is limitation on what we can do, hence most of our work is on policy and strategic advocacy.
But Steemit is seem a game changer for social enterprise. Something that i truly think is worth exploring.
For the past month, i have been advocating to other friends who is in the similar field to get on steemit to consider it as an alternative sustainable financing to support their work. Most of them are skeptics, or more so is not adaptable to the idea of blockchain and cryptocurrency. Perhaps, to some the idea of being a beggar is much more attractive.
This is also the reason why, i am making this post. Perhaps i should demonstrate it first through borneo conservancy before i do the talking and continue the walking.
Looking forward to setup an account for borneo conservancy and showcase how steemit can be an impactful alternative for a sustainable financing mechanism to support the work of conservation in this region.
Please stay on this space, to get updates of my future project to built a social enterprise incubator to encourage and support other social enterprise to use steemit to help drive their social and conservation work. If you think you would like to support what i am planning to do or wish to be part of this, do give me a buzz. Time to build a game plan. Its Game Time.
Dont Leave Us To Walk Alone.
Why Am I Here
Daniel Doughty loves his community and ideas but hates writing. Steemit is a brilliant platform that would help him express his thoughts and helps him practise his writing, he hopes to get better at it.
He is now a self proclaim steemit evangelist and preacher , encouraging his community in Borneo to use steemit as a bridge to the outside world to build awareness, showcase talents and most importantly to create wealth for themselves.
To find out more on what he does, click HERE